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Dock diving?!!!

I wandered over to the National Finals for the Dock diving dogs and it sure looked like a heckofa lot of fun. My colleague at work has a little toller that jumps (I'm not making this up) 22 feet. It is spooky and almost physiologically impossible. The BIG dogs (pit bulls, labs) jumped 21 feet to win their division.

Watching it is contagious and I couldn't help wonder how my dog would do. But, their method doesn't seem compatible for a hunting retriever. The dog sits (creeps) 20 feet back from the edge and at a signal, as he races past them, the owners toss their toy into the tank. It looks to me like it would teach my dog to break or otherwise mess with her line manners.

My big boy would rather dock dive than retrieve! He has a fairly graceful leap for a sizeable lab. His longest jump is 21' 7"! I have no idea how to improve it or anything of that nature, so we just let him have fun. I've entered a couple competitions with him, but it was just hunting shows or bassmaster events where they had the pools available. I was in Montgomery and a German Shorthair Pointer jumped over 25 feet ... Dogs definitely love it and for mine especially, he gets amped up with the other dogs around and has to show off. I don't pass up on the docks if I run across a local event.

I have done it a couplt times with my dogs. Thor's best jump was over 23 feet. I doubt I will do it again. Some people take it to serious and thinks the "titles" from dock diving mean more then what they really are.

I think the picture of your dog jumping with his legs extended behind him is very interesting. This little toller I mentioned does that and her jumps are way longer than any other toller on record (and yes, they keep these sorts of records.) I believe that it's typical for labs to jump and pull their back legs up under them.

Clearly the dogs were thrilled to be doing it. (And it's cool that little old Reno was the home of the "national championships".) Seemed to me like everyone was pulling for the dogs and giving each one a big hand.

I have done it a couplt times with my dogs. Thor's best jump was over 23 feet. I doubt I will do it again. Some people take it to serious and thinks the "titles" from dock diving mean more then what they really are.

Thor with his 1st place ribbon.

Getting Thor ready to jump.

Thank you for your comment on titles. It's been my issue with the game for years. It's a ton of fun, my dogs love it, but it's a game. Not a whole lotta training involved. They either jump big or they don't. Don't tell the short jumpers though. They all think they flew 30 feet.

My golden has a 22' personal best my husbands lab went high 23' range.

Thank you for your comment on titles. It's been my issue with the game for years. It's a ton of fun, my dogs love it, but it's a game. Not a whole lotta training involved. They either jump big or they don't. Don't tell the short jumpers though. They all think they flew 30 feet.

My golden has a 22' personal best my husbands lab went high 23' range.

Ann

My 2 1/2 yo loves it. His personal best last year was 19.5 feet. Too bad he does not like and behave in retrieving as well??? It is a great fun game!!